New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-11
vopr n.uy TRIBUNE SUNDAY 1ssz-s1xTEEN PAGES

! toward the barrack square, when WIS p"i"
concealed from view ty Intervening tees, shc
L.ered ont OF the bay-window tn gct.a breath OF
fresh air, when she heard rrst'ing IN thc larSe'
old Spanish chestnut, wi ch spread its widc t,ich-
leaved branches close to the window ana ioofihs
up. saw the laughing face of Archie Day pecpihs
ont in the dusk. >,
She thought that her good angel must have de-
serted her on that night; for. instead oil sendihg
him off straightway with scolding she listened
to his whispered assurance that he could no longer
exist without n word with her, and he sprang
lightly over the intervening three or four ieet OF
space from the bOugh to the window-slll, clever'y
catching the corner Of the frame with his mana
anil ere, moi-clessl in, enj, ling his own Cat- Ike
agility like the boy he was What young girl,
especially when watched and suspected does not
enjoy an innocent piece OF mischief when she can
find a onscentous preteXt to cover ~ win
Dora found her pretext in the noble opportuI y
offered her for advising Mr.. DAILY with regard 10
the Platonc bearing nc was henccforth TO observe
toward her. Besides IL she had made russ
Archie would have persisted. and the choerlc
uncle and commanding officer might have mace
an incoDvenicnt third in the interview. but
alas. she knew very we'll, when she afterward
reflected on it, that the potent reason OF all was
that she enjoyed it. and very bitterly did she pay
for that stolen sweetness. All her life long she
was TO remember the ion of the bright laughing
| face with the golden curls and iaunty little CAPS
| framed by the shining chestnut leaves.
lie was returning from some duty, when ne
heard through bribed servant Of his opportunity
and caught at it Immediately, watching the pro-
grcss OF the dinner from his perch in the chestnut
and calculating to a moment the time the Colonel,
/ who was a creature Of fixed habit, would remain
in the diniDg-room
But the UNEXPECTED is the only thing we can
certainly predict, and Archie had not been sitting
in the prohibited bower many golden moments
when the wel-knOwn growl OF the ColoneIs bass
voice resounded with terrifying effect upon the
stairs he ascending.
"Run, Mr. DAILY, run for your 1ifel' cried Dora;
and she had not ceased speaking before Days
slim figure flashed across the dusk from the win
dow to the chestnut, thick Dough of which nc
dexterously caught, though Dora had time to turn
sick with terror lest he should fall first
A gusty night, my DEAR growled the uncle,
seeing the tree sway and rustic beneath its I'M
wonted burden. Blowing up for rain"
81 hope so,n faltered Dora. 1T Is 80 sultry.
am half-sthed"-and she stopped TO hide her
burning cheeks, already yelled by the twilight,
and pick up Arches forgotten cap, which she
tossed behind a sofa cushion.
The unsuspecting Colonel, however, stood at the
window and directed his attention to the heavy
thunderous sky and thence to the chestnut, which
had ceased to luiver. and showed blank gloom
in the deepening dusk. He gazed point blank at
Ito very spot which bid the now motoness Daily,
and INDUCED in monologue for the benefit OF
his trembling niece. whose eyes were riveted TO
the same spot
IL must lop that tree. 1t is too near the win
dows. Burglars and Fenians might take advan-
tage OF it,"
Dora trembled more for she heard the sound Oh
! q smothered laugh from the tree
what extraordinary sounds birds make at
duslxi" he continued. An owl, / suppose, again.
/ wish | had gum"
"By the way, uncle2" asked Dora, "what is
this new order about revoversp Arc officers to
carry them when they go the rounds''
no EaninuS. m
lesslv but Stall far too deeply interested in the
chestnut, she thought. :" Great hnmbugl The guard
is doubled, and every officer carries a revolver
when on duty after sunset MIND your cat aces
not go foragng in the barrack square at
night he'll be shot for Fenian The rascal is
on the sofa again" he added, making dash with
his handkerchief at the unfortunate cap, which
Dora hast ~ secured and concealed more eiectuay
Nothing that she could say would beguilc her
uncle from his wat NJ the window; there he STOOD
gaz ne out upon the dark masses of foliage, between
which the barracll lights twinkled, till she grew
wild and lon.ed 60 tear him away by main force
No sound issued from the now motionless chcst-
nut She thought that Archie must be waiting
there on the chance Of recovering his cap. Inc
night grew more sultry with the growing dark
ness. her strained ears caught the huge calls
the tramp OF scntries, the distant roll OF wheels
but not the cat-hkc tread Of the fugitive. At
last, though she deferred IL as long MS she could,
lights brought, and her uncles figure was
cast in bold relief upon the solid dark WITHOUT.
Now there was step on the road, but IL turned
| up the drive; there was ring at the oeii-a
| parcel delivered. At length the Colonel sat down
and took up paper, and Dora's quich ears
caught n slight rustic among the leaves, followed
by n light step on the path and across the ROAD
! she believed IL u be Archie and grew tranquil
pouring out the tea and talking with light hoart.
Then suddenly there rang through the sun
night the sharp, quick report Of "A pistol Shc
sprauc 10 her feet trembling, and listened "A
faint cry and then silence.
The unclc and niece gazed ntenty into the
blank darkness for few seconds, then they
heard hurrying footsteps and the sound OF the
guard turning out
There Is nothing the matter, my dear, but
I'll just go and see,' said her uncle. DRINK
your tea, child
lie had not left the house when an orderly
arrived, and Dora, who crossing the landing
with Days cap in her hand, meaning to lock
it away, looked down into the lighted hall. and
saw the soldier salute with rock Ike gravity,
and begin his message, out Of which she distin-
guishcd only these deadly words captain Bruce
has shot Lieutenant DAILY dead"
She heard no more; she found shortly
afterward in n faint at the head OF the
stairs, with the little cap claspcd in her arms
The unfortunate lad had no doubt fingered In
the tree in the hope of getting his
cap. and at last had rushed headlong
across the battle-ground toward his
quarters, and in n dark place by blank wall
had encountered Captain Bruce, who had just
left his quarters to go on duty, and whose hand
was in his pocket graspng the loaded revolver.
BruCe's account of the occurrence was that he
heard but could not see, man running quickly
toward him in the darkness and before he had
time to challenge him felt the violent conclusion
of Days body against him, and withdrawing his
right hand which held the pistol he Immediately
cooked from lis pocket, felt it grasred by the
other who probably did in instructive
effort to preserve his balance lie must have
pointed it at his own breast in the darkness and
discharged 1t by the vibration Of his grasp;
for he had scarcely seized I'ruccs arm before the
shot Mns fired and he fell dead TO the ground.